Letters to the editor (8/7/09)

Dr. John Clark's Compass piece ("Plans to extend health care may reduce it", Aug. 3) is timely. John should be sent to Washington, D.C.; they need all the help that they can get. He did fail to mention tort reform, which seems to be out of bounds in a government run by lawyers.

-- Dick Griffith

Anchorage

Weed takes hold on south side as city, state twiddle thumbs

Three years ago I began to notice patches of purple flowers growing in the median of the Seward Highway, south of Dowling. Last year there was a lot more of it, which piqued my interest enough to learn that it's bird vetch, an extremely aggressive invasive weed.

This summer it has become abundantly clear that the biological goal of the vetch is to displace every other plant. Patches of it have now spread along the shoulders for two miles up Huffman Road, near my home. Today I was in a small wooded area of my lot and I found a large patch of the vetch growing up through small spruce trees, to heights of four feet. I learned firsthand just how insidious this plant is. It spreads in a tangled mat that takes over everything.

Why didn't the state stop this stuff when it was still just a few small clumps? Why didn't the city stop it when it spread up Huffman Road.? More importantly, why are they still not dealing with it?

-- Ken Higgins

Anchorage

18 years of government-run health care and still loving it

I'm 83 years old. I've been in a government-run health care system for 18 years, and I love it. Together with a very reasonably priced supplemental insurance policy, I get 100 percent of my health care needs taken care of and it doesn't cost me one additional penny.

I've had a heart procedure, a colon procedure, frequent regular visits to the specialists -- cardiologist, urologist, gastroenterologist and family practice physician -- with no delays and excellent professional service. The government has never denied me any service under my plan.

As far as I can tell, there is no government insurance agent between me and my doctor -- as some recent ads would have you believe. Those who claim that a government-run health care system can't work are just blowing hot air and trying to scare a gullible public.

-- Robert Hurney

Anchorage

Don't crush clunkers: sell 'em to youngsters

Another reason the Cash for Clunkers is a clunker of an idea is because our young adults have always bought these clunkers as their first cars. Now these cheap cars are being smashed, taken off the market for our kids. I guess Uncle Sam will just have to print up some more money to help this age group.

-- Kim Madsen

Anchorage